Running between the wickets is an underrated skill in cricket. If the batter has the ability to convert ones into twos and twos into threes, he can keep the scoreboard ticking without taking too many risks. When the field is spread, he just needs to find the right gaps and time the ball accordingly to run as many as runs as possible.
In the past, there used to be a rule for runner. If a batter is tired or injured, he could ask another player to run for him. However, that rule does not exist now, prompting the batters to work on their fitness. Running 90 runs between the wickets in a single ODI innings is something that not many cricketers achieved in their careers. Here’s a list of five Indians who did so.
(Stats Credit: Shebas)
5. Mohammad Azharuddin – 91 runs by running between the wickets vs. SL, 1997
Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin took 91 runs by running in a 111-run knock against Sri Lanka. He hit five fours and finished with 111 off 117, but his efforts went in vain as India lost by two runs.
4. Sachin Tendulkar – 92 runs by running between the wickets vs. SL, 2009
In the final of the 2009 Compaq Cup, former Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar scored 138 runs. 92 out of those runs came via running, while the others came by 10 fours and a six.
3. Gautam Gambhir – 94 vs. SL, 2009
Another former Indian batter who scored 90+ runs in an ODI innings against Sri Lanka was Gautam Gambhir. It was in a bilateral series match of 2009, where Gambhir scored 150 runs off 137 balls, 94 through running and hit 14 fours.
2. Sourav Ganguly – 98 vs. SL, 1999
In the second ODI of the 1999 Pepsi Cup, Sourav Ganguly scored 130 runs against Sri Lanka. He ran 98 of them and smacked five fours and two sixes.
1. Virat Kohli – 100 vs. SA, 2018
The only Indian to complete 100 runs by running in an ODI innings is Virat Kohli. He accomplished the feat against South Africa in 2018 during his knock of 160 runs.
